When Love is a Question Mark
Chapter 142: Precinct Tension

Chapter 142: Precinct Tension

When Samuel arrived at the precinct, a guard led him to an interrogation room. The cold, sterile walls seemed to echo every step he took. Samuel stood there for a moment, gathering himself, before the door was unlocked, and he entered.

Cain sat on the other side of the metal table, leaning back in his chair, a smug grin plastered on his face. The sight of Cain made Samuel’s blood boil, but he forced his anger down. His hands clenched into fists, but he took a deep breath to keep his cool.

Cain tilted his head, smirking. "Well, look who it is," he drawled. "You here to give me a pat on the back for the little game I played?"

Samuel, with his fists clenched at his sides, took a deep breath and forced himself to stay calm. "You really thought you could get away with that, didn’t you?" he asked, his voice low and controlled.

Cain shrugged, his grin widening. "What can you do to me, rich boy? I’m already in here. Can’t make my life worse, can you?"

Samuel leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "You’ll be in prison for much longer than you think. You’ve been pushing your luck too far. And this time, there’s no bluffing your way out."

Cain scoffed. "You think you can scare me? I like it here. I’ve got my own way of handling things."

Samuel stared at him, his jaw set in frustration. "You’re not in control here. You never were."

He turned, his back now to Cain, and walked out of the room. Before he left, he turned around just enough to give Cain one last look.

"Goodbye, Cain," Samuel said coolly, the finality of his words hanging in the air. "Enjoy your time here."

And with that, he left, the door slamming behind him.

---

Outside, Samuel got back into his car, exhaling sharply. He pulled out his phone and dialed his lawyer. The phone rang twice before a voice picked up.

"Samuel, what’s going on?" the lawyer asked.

"I need to move forward with everything," Samuel said. His voice was steady, but the tension from his visit with Cain was still simmering. "I want Cain prosecuted for the threats he made, even from behind bars. No privileges, no access to any form of communication."

The lawyer paused, then sighed. "It won’t be easy," he replied. "Cain’s in prison, yes, but cutting off his communication requires more than a few complaints. We’ll have to prove he’s a danger even from the inside."

Samuel rubbed his temple. "He threatened a bomb on a set, made dozens of people panic," he insisted. "That alone should be enough. And I don’t want him to have access to the news. I want him isolated."

"Alright," the lawyer conceded. "We can file for restrictions. But it’ll take time. And it might not hold for long."

Samuel’s fingers tightened around his phone. "Do it. And keep an eye on him. I don’t want any more surprises."

---

Samuel rested his head against the car seat, eyes closed. His mind raced, replaying the smug expression on Cain’s face. How did Cain know about the ship? It all clicked when he remembered the news.

Lopez Digital Studios had made a grand announcement about their partnership with Lily Oceanic Industries. The media had covered the story extensively, highlighting the start of the movie shoot. Samuel cursed under his breath. Of course, that was how Cain knew. Even in prison, he’d found a way to gather information.

He punched the steering wheel in frustration, the sharp pain grounding him. "Damn it," he whispered. He felt foolish for not anticipating that someone like Cain would still have ears everywhere. Samuel knew he had to be more vigilant. Cain had already proven how far his reach extended.

Taking a deep breath, Samuel started the car and pulled onto the road. The city bustled around him, but he barely registered the sights and sounds. His thoughts were a chaotic mess of anger, fear, and exhaustion.

He had so much work waiting for him. His phone buzzed with reminders about meetings and reports, each notification pulling him further into stress. Samuel rubbed his tired eyes. "How I wish Timmy were here," he muttered. But he knew better. Timmy had been running himself ragged for weeks, and he deserved a break.

Samuel sighed as he stopped at a red light. The thought of the mountain of work ahead made him want to scream. "At least one of us is enjoying some time off," he said, trying to muster a wry smile. But even that felt forced.

---

Meanwhile, Timmy was making the most of his time off. The day before, he’d thrown himself into the lively atmosphere of the resort. He had joined a group of tourists playing beach volleyball, laughing and trying his best to keep up. The game was exhausting, but it kept his mind busy.

Still, even in those quiet moments, Timmy couldn’t shake thoughts of Ms. Aquila. He had been too shy, too hesitant, and now she was gone. He sat on the resort’s balcony, watching the sun dip lower in the sky, feeling a pang of regret.

As the evening approached, the new friends Timmy had made started to pack up. Their vacations were ending, and they had flights to catch. One by one, they said their goodbyes, leaving Timmy feeling oddly lonely. The resort felt emptier without them, and for the first time, he wished he could return to work.

At least there, he wouldn’t have time to dwell on what-ifs.

---

Timmy sat there, blankly staring out at the horizon, the waves crashing in a soothing rhythm. The salty breeze ruffled his hair, but his mind was far away. That was when he felt a presence beside him. Someone had taken a seat next to him.

"You seem a bit down," a familiar voice said. "Not enjoying your vacation?"

Timmy’s head snapped up, his heart pounding. There she was, Ms. Aquila, with a slight smile on her face instead of her usual calm and strict demeanor. For a moment, he was too stunned to speak.